"Measures K and M violate the rights of Seaside residents," said Seaside Mayor and Carpenters Union official Ralph Rubio. "The people of Seaside ought to have direct control over what happens within their city limits. As to the lands that are outside the city of Seaside's boundaries, the FORA board was established as a geographically diverse county body to make decisions that serve all affected areas and interests."

For this issue, the city has hired Los Angeles lawyer Kevin Ennis, who specializes in land-use issues and usually works for local governments.

The legal challenge calls both measures unconstitutional, illegal and invalid.

The environmentalist Access Alliance expects to prevail in court, said spokesman Jason Campbell, who said courts support the public's right to create ballot measures challenging official actions. He also said that as a Seaside resident, he was "stunned" the city would waste money on legal fees.

The alliance initiated the ballot measure in hopes of preventing the city from approving Monterey Downs, which the city appears poised to do.

If the court tossed out that ballot measure, it would make the competing Measure K academic.

Jack Stewart of the Measure K campaign said the city has every right to challenge the measures. "So be it" if the challenge works, he said.

Ballot measures are used with some frequency to overturn land-use decisions by cities and counties, but in most cases they are filed after official action has been taken. The Monterey Downs project is in the early stages of review by the city. The Fort Ord veterans cemetery has been under consideration for many years, but its backers are still pushing to complete its financing package and are facing key deadlines.

Backers of each of the measures submitted official ballot language to describe the initiatives just this week and the ballots have not been printed.